Opinion Pieces Discuss Access To Water, Sanitation On World Toilet Day

Nov 19, 2014

The Conversation: Imagine life without a proper toilet: that’s the reality for 1 in 3 people
Juliet Willetts, associate professor and research director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney

“…World Toilet Day remains a critical means to raise awareness globally about one of the many important things we take for granted. Every day, 1,400 children die from preventable diseases, like diarrhea, caused by unclean water and inadequate sanitation. … The coming months will be a critical time when U.N. member states debate [WASH] goals. Australia has the opportunity to argue for a dedicated goal for WASH, which will be critical to ensuring the chronically underfunded sanitation sector becomes a political priority…” (11/18).

“…Gender equality and access to clean, safe, and private sanitation must be prioritized in the post-2015 development agenda, taking into account the particular needs of women and girls to secure economic progress, and ensure a life of dignity and safety for all” (11/19).